Signal for vehicles



May 15', 192s. 1,670,115

A. L.v JOHNSON SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed oct. 1', 1921A ;/o l1/ig. i

Patented May 15, 1928.

ALBERT L. JOHNSON, 0F WILERNIE, MINNESOTA.

SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

Application ined october 1 i921.- serial No. 504,599.

My invention relates to improvementsin signals for vehicles. v .y

Its object is to provide a simple, durable and compact, electric signalpleasing in ap-l pearance and adapted for use in connection withvehicles to indicate premeditated changes in travel by displayingdesignating symbols, parts of said symbols being common to each other.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear in thefollowing description, the invention resides in the novel -combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 Ais a vertical, central sectional view takenlongitudinally of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Figs. 3`and 4 are elevations showing, in dotted lines, the two symbols as theyappear when illuminated.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the reference character A. toAindicate an oblong signal housing, including top 10, bot tom 11, ends12 and side panels 13, said housing being adapted to be mounted bysuitable means in any desired position upon a vehicle. The top, bottomand ends may be formed of wood, sheet metal or other suitable material.The side panels 13 are of a material having the inherent quality ofadmitting light therethrough or may be of other material formed toaccomplish that end. I prefer to use a translucent material, such asfrosted glass, though sheet metal formed with many minute perforationstherein may be employed. Vithin 'the hous-V ing A, Iy arrange triangularpartitions 14 forming, together with the panels 13, end compartments 15and 16. A narrow intermediate compartment 17 reaching from one endcompartment to the other is formed by horizontal partitions 18, togetherwith portions of the partitions 14 and panels 13. The intermediatecompartment 17 outlines a central bar against each of the panels 13.

The end compartment 16 outlines arrow heads, on said panels, pointing tothe left, and the compartment 15 outlines arrow heads, on the panels,pointing to the right, each outlined bar serving as the shaft of anarrow-like symbol for the different companion arrowheads. I supply acolored (red) electric lamp 19 for the end compartment 16, a colored(green) electric lamp 20 for4 the"y end compartment `15 ,and coloredlamps 21 (red)and 22 (green) l for the in termediate compartment 17 Thelamps 19 and 21 arel arrangedin a circuit 23 and the .lamps 20` and 22in Aa circuit 24, said r circuits being adapted to be severally closedby any suitable mechanism. The closing of the circuit 24 results indisplaying arrows on each side ofthe signal, the same being of .onecolor (green) and lpointing to the right (Fig. 4). The closing of thecircuit 23 results in displaying arrows on each side of the signal, thesame being of another color (red) and pointing to the left (Fig. 3).

In using ground, frosted or other translucent material for the panels13, I sometimes form opaque lines 25, upon the panels, as shown 'in Fig.3, certain of said lines re isteringwith the edges of the partitions 14and 18. These opaque lines comprisey patterns obscuring the outlines ofthe partitions against the panels 13, when the lighting circuits areopen. When a lighting circuit is closed, and a symbol made visiblethereby, the pattern produced by said opaque lines is obscured and hasno appreciable effect as viewed by anobserver. I also conterned bycutting or molding (not shown) It will be understood from the abovedescription that the shaft of each arrow-like symbol is common toitscompanion symbol. This arrangement provides for simplicity in structure,economy in manufacture, durability in use and 'renders vthe design mostpleasing Iin appearance. i

Changes in thespeciiic form of myv invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention] Having described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

`template the use of transparent panels patto obscure the edges of thepartitions l111 and 1. In a device of the class describedv a i light`transmitting panel, partitions abutting thereagainst and formingadjacent compart- `ments, a lamp within each compartment,

the lightvfrom each lamp outlined by the partitions of its respectivecompartment against said panel forming'a portion of vadirectionindicating symbol, said panel having partition obscuring linesthereon, a plurality of said lines registering with the edges of saidpartitions.v

2. In a, dev-ice o the class described, a lighttransrnitting. panel,partitions abutting thereagainstnnd forming adjacent compartments, someof seidl partitions] being inclined, others vertical and othershorizontal to form a direction indicating symbol,1lfn1ps Within saidcompartments for illuminating portions of said panelf'incliidd innyd-ire'ctiony indicating` symbol, Vsziid panel `hal-ving;A a f pluralityof ,inclined obscnring l lines' there'- on, someofsaid"lineswre'gistering thej 01` seid heriwntelf per .1, rahty oi''vertical obscuring lines, some oi' 'siziidf edges ofy said inclinedpartitions", plurality of horizontal obscuring hnes therein, some 03":said lines registering with the edges ofs'c'iiring lines registeringwith the edges ofthe vertical partitions.

'In-testimonywvhereof, I have signed my naine to this speciication.

ALBni-rr n. JOHNSON.

tions, v'and a plu-`

